The Black Snob Asks: What If These White Celebs Were Black?

Case No.5: George Zimmerman

The most infamous man in American right now, Zimmerman was recently arraigned in court for the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, who he shot believing the 17-year-old was a robber instead of some kid walking home from the 7-11.

BUT WHAT IF HE WAS BLACK? He’d be INVISIBLE.

For one, he probably would have gotten arrested immediately. None of this “Oh, you say it was self-defense? Heh. We believe you. Here’s your gun back. See you at the church picnic.” Which also means Zimmerman would be invisible to us outside of the Sanford, Fla. community. The fact is a story only becomes national news when the death is seen as especially tragic or unusual. Zimmerman going un-arrested, plus the race angle (most people die at the hands of a member of their own race), is what made this story and the outrage over it grow. Without it, is just another tragic shooting lumped in with the many local, tragic shootings that befall black and white people all over America everyday.

Case in point: If you still have a local newspaper, turn to page two of the Local section and read how most homicides are communicated in a sentence or two, and not broadcast on MSNBC.